[Tony123]

Hi everyone,

I have a second story small bathroom that has an exhaust fan that leads into the attic. We don't use the exhaust fan today because it was noted during our inspection that the pipe from the exhaust does not lead outside. Instead it ends on top of a pie pan on top of our pink attic insulation (I suppose for any excess water accumulation). Our bathroom is now getting so wet from the steam however that I'm wondering if we would be doing any harm using this fan. We only use the shower twice a day and both sides of the attic have vents that are open and it seems to get decent airflow up there. Is mold a real concern with an exhaust pipe that is sitting in a pie pan on top of insulation or is the airflow and size of the attic enough to disperse any real harm of mold or other problems.

I know the real solution would be to vent the exhaust outside. But the attic has asbestos and I really can't afford to tackle a project like that at this time.

Thanks for your help!

 

[jagans]

Pie? No. Lasagna? Now yer talkin! :thumbsup:
​

 

[joecaption]

Just go through the roof and be done with it.

 

[Tony123]

Going through the roof is not an option at this time (as I said earlier). Is there really no other advise anyone can provide? I'm trying to decide between the lesser of two evils. Wet bathroom or vent to the attic.

 

[jagans]

Yes I can, but I know Im going to hear about it. It works on my ranch with no problems.

I assume you have a ventilated soffit. Run a three inch PVC pipe out to the soffit and install an El facing down. Attach to the fan with a 3 x 3 fernco coupling. when you are showering moist hot air will go out and condense when it hits the outside air depending on outdoor temperature. Run it under the insulation to keep it warm. (Against the drywall) and slope it outward.

Everybody Yell Now!

The fact is that you arent showering all the time, and the amount of moisture that comes out wont make any difference to the attic if properly vented.

If you have a steam bath its a different story, but most people will run their fan while showering and for a while afterward.

 

[beenthere]

Yes it can cause mold in your attic.

Put a good dust/breathing mask on, and run it out your gable end.

 

[ben's plumbing]

Hi everyone,

I have a second story small bathroom that has an exhaust fan that leads into the attic. We don't use the exhaust fan today because it was noted during our inspection that the pipe from the exhaust does not lead outside. Instead it ends on top of a pie pan on top of our pink attic insulation (I suppose for any excess water accumulation). Our bathroom is now getting so wet from the steam however that I'm wondering if we would be doing any harm using this fan. We only use the shower twice a day and both sides of the attic have vents that are open and it seems to get decent airflow up there. Is mold a real concern with an exhaust pipe that is sitting in a pie pan on top of insulation or is the airflow and size of the attic enough to disperse any real harm of mold or other problems.

I know the real solution would be to vent the exhaust outside. But the attic has asbestos and I really can't afford to tackle a project like that at this time.

Thanks for your help!

you answered your own question..best solution go through roof...so ask yourself how long has it run like this.if you can't tackle it now...when....no one here will tell you to leave it like that because its wrong and will cause mold.then what. make your plans to do it right ....ben sr

 

[joecaption]

Your saying you can not afford a $13.00 roof vent?
There's no need to do anything with the insulation, makes you feel better wear a dust mask.
http://www.amazon.com/Canplas-6013B...id=1359608017&sr=8-2&keywords=Dryer+Roof+Vent

 

[Tony123]

Your saying you can not afford a $13.00 roof vent?
There's no need to do anything with the insulation, makes you feel better wear a dust mask.
http://www.amazon.com/Canplas-6013B...id=1359608017&sr=8-2&keywords=Dryer+Roof+Vent

What I'm saying is that I don't have the skills and tools needed to cut a hole in my roof to vent this the correct way unfortunately.

 

[ben's plumbing]

What I'm saying is that I don't have the skills and tools needed to cut a hole in my roof to vent this the correct way unfortunately.

then do what you have to do to satisfy your own conscience.....its wrong you came here for help ..you got it and don't want it ..how may we help you..ben sr

 

[Tony123]

then do what you have to do to satisfy your own conscience.....its wrong you came here for help ..you got it and don't want it ..how may we help you..ben sr

Thanks for the responses thus far. However, my question was which of these situations is better - a wet bathroom or an exhaust entering a well vented attic. So far no one has seemed to be able to answer that question. I already know what to do in a perfect world but I am not mobile enough and able to tackle a project that requires me to get into the attic. I would still like to find out what the lesser of two evils is though.

 

[wrongdave]

Thanks for the responses thus far. However, my question was which of these situations is better - a wet bathroom or an exhaust entering a well vented attic. So far no one has seemed to be able to answer that question. I already know what to do in a perfect world but I am not mobile enough and able to tackle a project that requires me to get into the attic. I would still like to find out what the lesser of two evils is though.

The problem you're running into is that of all the problems people come here with, yours is one of the easies to fix, so the responses reflect that.
If you're adamant about it only being vent into attic versus not venting, the answer depends on your location and just how "well vented" your attic is. There are a lot of bathroom fans vented into attics. Some will not cause problems, some will cause serious problems. But ultimately, it's just an unnecessary risk since it is rarely difficult to vent to the outside.

 

[Tony123]

The problem you're running into is that of all the problems people come here with, yours is one of the easies to fix, so the responses reflect that.
If you're adamant about it only being vent into attic versus not venting, the answer depends on your location and just how "well vented" your attic is. There are a lot of bathroom fans vented into attics. Some will not cause problems, some will cause serious problems. But ultimately, it's just an unnecessary risk since it is rarely difficult to vent to the outside.

Does the fan blow hard enough usually to clear about 15 feet of flexable metal hose so it will reach the other side of my basement where the gable window is?

 

[ionized]

Are there any notable problems near the pie pan? If not, the former residents were probably using it all the time. I'd use it and do an inspection periodically, especially after a couple of hot showers on cold and cold, cloudy, windless and humid days. No or minimal condensation, no problem.

The best solution is not through the roof, but out the side. You don't want another hole in your roof, but if you can't help it, that is the way to go.

 

[oh'mike]

Until you can get it done properly---at least get a duct on it and run it to the soffit--or to a roof mushroom vent----

Beenther offered the standard ,first choice----get the duct to a gable end and go out the wall---

No roof work---if you are in a cold area---always insulate the duct--pitch it to drain outside of possible---add a timer to the fan so the duct is flushed out with dry air---

 

[GerardW]

To answer the question of which is worse- it's really six of one half dozen of another. If you have long showers and a dark bathroom without a lot of Air movement you could get some mold going. You could get the same thing in the attic, but if you are in an area with freezing temperatures then the moisture in the attic could freeze to the roof sheathing and over time warp and compromise sections of the roof. Will it happen overnight? Probably not. But neither will the mold in the bathroom...